System and method for dynamic allocation of forward error encoding

Abstract

A method for dynamically allocating forward error encoding is disclosed. The method monitors bandwidth utilization for transmitting data, and dynamically adjusts a level of forward error encoding, based on the bandwidth utilization for data, to substantially occupy available bandwidth not being utilized. Also, a communications system is disclosed, which includes a data formatting unit adapted to dynamically adjust the level of forward error encoding based on data bandwidth utilization such that the level of forward error encoding substantially occupies unutilized bandwidth, a transmitter adapted to transmit a data signal formatted by the data formatting unit, and a receiver adapted to receive the transmitted signal containing data and forward error encoding.

1 . A method for dynamically allocating forward error encoding, comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring a utilization of bandwidth for data to be transmitted; and    adjusting a level of forward error encoding responsive to said utilization of bandwidth, such that bandwidth not being utilized is substantially occupied.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 automatically detecting an adjustment in the level of forward error encoding.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring step comprises the step of: 
 monitoring said data in a transmission buffer.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting step further comprises the steps of: 
 reducing the level of forward error encoding when said utilization of bandwidth increases; and    increasing the level of forward error encoding when said utilization of bandwidth decreases.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 setting a minimum level of forward error encoding to be used.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 setting a minimum level of forward error encoding based on a worst case bandwidth scenario.    
   
   
       7 . A communications system, comprising: 
 a data formatting unit adapted to dynamically adjust the level of forward error encoding based on data bandwidth utilization such that the level of forward error encoding substantially occupies unutilized bandwidth;    a transmitter coupled to said data formatting unit, and adapted to transmit a data signal formatted by the data formatting unit; and    a receiver coupled to said transmitter, and adapted to receive the transmitted signal including said data and forward error encoding.    
   
   
       8 . The communications system of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit signals over a wireless radio link.  
   
   
       9 . The communications system of  claim 7 , wherein the data formatting unit and transmitter are located in a spaceborne platform.  
   
   
       10 . The communications system of  claim 7 , wherein the data formatting unit further comprises: 
 a buffer adapted to temporarily store data prior to transmission;    a bandwidth monitor coupled to said buffer, and adapted to monitor data in the buffer in order to determine a level of data bandwidth utilization; and    a forward error encoder coupled to the bandwidth monitor and the buffer, the forward error encoder adapted to adjust a level of forward error encoding based on data bandwidth utilization responsive to signals received from the bandwidth monitor.    
   
   
       11 . The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the forward error encoder comprises an application specific integrated circuit adapted to dynamically adjust forward error encoding based on data bandwidth utilization.  
   
   
       12 . The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the bandwidth monitor comprises an application specific integrated circuit adapted to determine a level of forward error encoding to be used based on data bandwidth utilization.  
   
   
       13 . The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the forward error encoder comprises: 
 an input/output interface adapted to receive a signal from the buffer and bandwidth monitor; and    at least one processing unit coupled to said input/output interface, and adapted to execute software instructions for dynamically adjusting forward error correction levels based on an amount of utilized bandwidth for data.    
   
   
       14 . The communications system of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a framer coupled to said forward error encoder, and adapted to format data and forward error encoding.    
   
   
       15 . A computer program product, comprising: 
 a computer-usable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein for configuring a computer processor, the computer program product comprising:    a first executable computer-readable code configured to cause a computer processor to select a level of forward error encoding based on bandwidth utilized for data such that forward error encoding substantially occupies unutilized bandwidth; and    a second executable computer-readable code configured to cause a computer processor to generate the forward error encoding.    
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a third executable computer-readable code configured to cause a computer processor to select a default level of forward error encoding when bandwidth utilized for data is greater than a predetermined threshold value.    
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a fourth executable computer-readable code configured to cause a computer processor to set the threshold value at a value substantially equal to the maximum amount of bandwidth for data that allows sufficient bandwidth for a minimum level of forward error encoding in a worse case bandwidth scenario.    
   
   
       18 . A communications device, comprising: 
 means for monitoring data bandwidth utilization;    means for dynamically adjusting forward error encoding, based on the data bandwidth utilization, such that forward error encoding substantially occupies unutilized bandwidth; and    means for transmitting a signal containing the data and forward error encoding.    
   
   
       19 . The communications device of  claim 18 , wherein the means for dynamically adjusting forward error encoding is further adapted to use a default level of forward error encoding when data bandwidth utilization is higher than a given threshold value.  
   
   
       20 . The communications device of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 means for formatting the data and forward error encoding for transmission over a communication media.